Hitch sway limiting device



July 31, 1962 T. G. WiER ETAL 3,047,076

` HITCH SWAY LIMITING DEVICE Filed Nov. 28. 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet l July 31, 1962 Filed Nov. 28. 1960 T. G. WIER ETAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 :l i l?" 29 J July 31, 1952 T. G. WIER ETAL 3,047,076

HITCH SWAY LIMITING DEVICE Filed Nov. 2a, 1960 5 sheets-sheet 4 July 31, 1962 Filed Nov. 28, 1960 T. G. WER ETAL HITCH SWAY LIMITING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 252 z/enons.' Tamas Z//Z'er osco United States Patent O ice y astma; Patented July 31, 1962 This invention relates to implementdattaching mechanisms, but more particularly it is concerned with means for limiting side sway or lateral movement in a hitch device of the type used for coupling la ground-working implement to a vehicle such yas a tractor.

In certain types of three-point hitch tractor-mounted ground-working implements, such as the moldboard or disc plows, it is desirable that the implement be allowed to sway 'or move from side to side independently of the movement of the tractor. This is particularly desirable to allow the tractor to be turned at the end of Va row, or to follow a prescribed path such as in contour plowing while the 'attached implement continues to work the soil. Side sway or lateral movement, however, must be controlled and limited so as not to `allow interference with the rear `drive wheels of the vehicle and, of course, it is desirable that such side sway be reduced to practically nil when the implement is raised to a transport position so as to provide an arrangement that is stable and safe for transporting purposes. Heretofore, such sway-limiting objectives were usually sought `after by means of socalled stabilizing or limit chains, which were never completely satisfactory because of the tendency of the chains to stretch and take a permanent set under extreme loads, or the chains, when located between the lower draft links and anchored toward a center rear portion of the vehicle, tended to create an interference condition with certain implements and swinging drawbar attachments, or, when the chains were located on the outside of two lower draft links `and anchored outboard on la rear portion of the vehicle, they tended to create a V type wedge which frequently operated to catch and cause resultant damage to certain row crops.

ln certain other types of implements, such as the sickle type mower, it is desirable that the implement be restrict-ed from any side sway throughout its working range as well as in its transport position but, since this type implement is not usually -a ground-penetrating tool, vehicle maneuverability is not aifected by the implement being restricted from side sway. In the past, sway restriction for such implements was frequently accomplished by means of an additional special attachment commonly termed a hitch stabilizer attachment, which usually consisted of two inboard or outboard mounted pivot pin brackets and two links which are interconnected between the pivot pin bracket yand the implement-attaching pins, and which, of course, served no useful purpose when other types of implements requiring lateral movement are employed.

AIt is a primary object of the present invention, therefore, to provide improved and simplified mechanism, particularly adapted for tractors having swingable draft links and power lift apparatus connected with the draft links :for raising and lowering an implement attached thereto, for controlling the side sway or lateral swinging movements of said draft links in all operating and transport positions of any implement when yattached by said draft lines.

Another object is to provide sway controlling means, for hitch mechanisms of this type, which are arranged for selectively permitting limited lateral sway of an attached implement in its operating position or for completely restricting such a lateral sway in any raised or lowered position of the implement yattached thereby.

A further object is to provide sway controlling mechanism so arranged that in one selected 'adjustment thereof 1an implement attached to the associated hitch device will be permitted limited sway in an operating or lowered operating position while no sway will be permitted in the raised or transport position thereof, :and in .another selected adjustment thereof the implement will be per- -mitted no lateral s'way movement either in the operating or transport positions thereof.

A more speciiic object is to provide sway controlling means for 'a hitch mechanism wherein cam surfaces aihxed to the vehicle are disposed to selectively engage roller elements carried by the draftv links of the hitch mechanism and which rollers are shiftable longitudinally thereof for selectively engaging -any one of a plurality of said cam surfaces. l

The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent las the disclosure is more ful-ly made in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invent-ion as illustrated in the accompanying sheetsof drawings in which:

FIGURE l'is `a side-elevational View, generally fragmentary in nature, showing an implement-attaching hitch mechanism having incorporated therein the improved sway controlling means of the present invention, and

shown with an implement of the type wherein limited side sway is permitted in a lowered or operating position;

FIGURE 2 is Ia plan view, with certain components of the lifting mechanism being omitted, of the structure shown in the preceding view and with the outer limits of side sway of the draft links on one side being shown in broken lines;

lFIGURE 3 is va fragmentary view, in enlarged detail, of the sway limiting structure in association with one oi the draft links;

FIGURE 4 is a side-elevational view similar to FIG- URE l, but showing the hitch mechanism raised to a transport position.

FIGURE 5 is a plan View 0f the arrangement shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view, in enlarged detail, taken generally lalong the line 6 6 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional View, in enlarged detail, taken generally along the line 7*-7 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a plan View generally similar to FIGURE 5, but showing the hitch mechanism in a transport position and wherein the cam followers have been moved forward to engage a different cam surface so as to prevent side sway in the raised as well as the lowered operating position of the hitch;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the cam surfaces of one of the cam-containing bumper structures; and

FIGURES l0 and 1l are horizontal sectional-views taken generally along the respective lines of lFIGURE 9.

Since the proposed device is adaptable for use with a variety of-conventional'types yof tractor vehicles, the particular vehicle which it is illustrated as being associated with herein is depicted only fragmentarily and is seen as represented in its entirety by the reference numeral 16. As shown, this includes a main frame or chassis structure 11, which it should be understood would conventionally support all the well-known power and drive components of such a vehicle, and, additionally having laterally outwardly extending rear axle housings 12, 12 which at their outer ends support ground-engaging means, such las the wheels 13, 13.

Suitably mounted on opposite sides of the main frame structure 11, are draft link pins 14, 14 which extend laterally outwardly therefrom and receive laterally apertured captive ball connectors 15, 15 swiveled in spherical openings in the forward ends of a pair of draft links 16,

16 which, in turn, extend rearwardly therefrom and diverge outwardly away from one another. The rearward ends of said draft links may 'be provided with similar ball-type .connections 17, 17 to accommodate in wellknown fashion an implement, such as the plow indicated generally at 18, while the upper portion of the rigid mast 19 thereof many be pivotallyV connected, by -suitable linkage such as shown generally at 20, to the tractor main frame 11 as is well understood. Drop links, such as 21,

21, pivotally lconnect the respective draft links 16, 16 to the Vassociated left lin'ks 22, 22 `(only one of which is shown) which, in turn, are constrained for rotationwith the rockshaft 23 which may be operated by suitable power structures, such as the left-hand member indicated 24L and the light-hand member shown at 24R. These structures are Ycomplen'iental, being reversely arranged so as to make one suitable for functioning on the rightand the other one on the left side of the vehicle. Each such bumper structure is fashioned with a body or rear Wall portion 25 ythrough which suitable fastening means such as the bolts or cap screws 26, may be positioned to aix or fasten the structures in laterally spaced-apart relation to one another onva vertical rear surface 27 of the -tractor I. main frame 11 at points intermediate the rearwardly extendingdraft links 16, 16. Each of said bumper structuresY is fashioned with a generally vertically `extending wall member 28 -that projects rearwardly outwardly from the body 25 thereof. Said latter wall fashioned to include a first surface 29 that extends vertically upwardly from the bottom and at the rearmost portion of the wall, a second surface 30 that joins and extends upwardly and outwardly' from the upper end Vof said'first surface, a third surface 31 that joins and extends `vertically upwardly from the upper end of said second surface, and a lfourth surface 32 that extends vertically upwardly from the bottom of the wall 28 and is disposed forwardly of the aforesaid surfaces thereof. All of these surfaces may be said to dene cam-tracks which are adaptable for engagement with a cani follower means-as will be hereafter described and hence these members might .be spoken of as camming structures. A raised rib or lip portion 33 at the upper ends of the camming surfaces and extending thereacross provides a stop or abutment for purposes ,which will subsequently be apparent.

As will be seen by reference to the various figures of the drawings, all of these cam-track surfaces are disposed in different vertical planes which all parallel an extension of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and with Vthe iirst surface 29 being closest to said central longitudinal axis, the fourth surface 32 being next closest to said axis, while the third surface 31 is farthest therefrom. The surfaces 29, 31, 32 all parallel one another even though they lie in different fore-and-aft vertical planes. It will be seen, also, that the surfaces29 and 29, 31 and 31, and 32 and 32 of the respective left and right bumper structures will be parallel toY one another, while the inclined surfaces 30,V 30 thereof diverge upwardly and outwardly away from one another so as to provide a wedgelike guide when engaged by the cam follower means as Y `will presently be apparent.

As will be seen from the side-elevational view of -FIG URE 9 the cam-track defining surfaces 29, 30, 31 and 32 on each of the bumper or camming structures are fashioned with the Aaft or rearmost end edges and the fore and forwardmost end edges of surfaces 29, 30 and 31 generally arcuate in vertical extent with. the radius there-k of centered about the respective pivotal connections 15,

15 of the associated draft links 16, 16.

Each of the draft links 16 has mountedron the outer face thereof a detent bar 314, which may be fastened thereto by suitable securing means, such for instance, as the bolts, or cap screws 35, and each such bar is provided with .a pair yof longitudinally spaced verlicallyex-V tending notches or grooves 36F, SSR that open outwardly toward the outer surface thereof. The particular shape or cross-sectional configuration fof these notches is not particularly important so long as they are adaptable to receive in detent fashion an interlocking pin or stud as will be seen.

Slidably positioned on each of the draft links is aVV keeper bracket, such as indicated generally at 37K, which is fashioned to resemble an overturned U-shape in crosssec-tion and lincludes a pairy of parallel spaced-apart horizontal arms 37a and 37b interconnected by a central arm 38. The central or vertical member 38, in turn, is fashioned -with a pair of vertically spaced-apart inwardly extending ears or lugs 38a, 3817 having horizontally aligned apertures therein for receiving a headed pin or shaft' 39 that journals a slightly crowned roller member 40. t,

Vertically aligned apertures in the outer ends of the upper and lower arms 37a, 37b, of the keeper 37 ,accommodate a removable headed. pin or stud 41 which, additionally, is receivable in yone of the notches or grooves 36F, 36R of the detent bar 34 thereby providing, in eiect,

an interlocking detent and indexing device for said keeper.

In order to move the keeper from one notch to another, or from a forward to a rear position and vice versa, it is only necessary to remove the pin 41 and then slide the keeper to the position 4desired and thereafter re-position the pin in'said vertically aligned apertures Iand in thekv appropriate notch 36F or 36K. These brackets with their rollers provide adjustable cam `follower means for engag- Ving the various cam-tracks in the bumper 'or camming sociated draft link 16 from. swinging intocontact with i' l the proximate wheel of the vehicle at times when there might not be an implement attached Vto the vehicle hitch Iand the `draft links would be generally free to. swing sideways at The extreme side sway position to one side of the vehicle for these draft links under such free Y condition are shown in broken lines in FIGURE 2.'

` When the tractor is operated with a ground-penetrating type of implementrequiiing lateral .movement, such as the plow 18, the pins 41, 41 of the keeper brackets 3,7, 37 are positioned in the rearmost notches v36k, 36K, whereupon the follower rollers 40, 40 will be spaced from the respective cam-track surfaces 29, 29 so long as the hitch is in its lowered or operating position, such as is indicated in FIGURES 1 3, and limited side sway or lateral movement will thereby lbe permitted. Now when the hitch is raised, for instance, to the transport 31 in closely. abutting relation and the draft links thus will be constrained against lateral sway relative to the vehicle. While being raised from the lowered operating position to the transport position the draft klinks 16, 16 are frequently oif-center or displaced sideways so that one of the rollers '40' may be in contacting engagement with a proximate cam surface 29, whereupon as the links are raised the associated roller will encounter the proximate outwardly ydiverging surface 30 and the draft links will then Ibe guided into -a centered position for engagement with the cam-track surfaces 31, 3'1.

When the tractor is to be operated with an implement of the ytype which does not require lateral movement, such as 'in the case of a sickle bar mower, the keeper brackets 37, 37 are moved forwardly and the pins 4l, 41 thereof are positioned in the forwardmost notches 36E', 36E, whereupon the follower rollers 40, 4Q will engage the respective cam-track surfaces 32, 32 (FIG. 8) and will continue to engage these surfaces in closely abutting relation regardless of whether the draft links are in their lowered or raised positions. It will be seen that because of the inwardly converging forward ends of the draft links the rollers 4i), 4G in their forwardmost positions are spaced closer together, hence Ithe engageable cam-track surfaces 32, 32 are correspondingly inwardly spaced from the lplanes that contain the surfaces 31, 3l.

It will be seen, therefore, that the proposed invention provides a very simple, effective and ilexible means for controlling lateral sway in an implement-attaching hitch mechanism. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that such an arrangement is readily adaptable for use with a great variety of vehicle-'borne implements, and, of cou-rse, is readily adaptable for use with most of the conventional bitching devices presently being operated.

While only one form lof the invention has been shown, it will be obvious to Ithose skilled in the art that it iS not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and it is desired, therefore, that yonly such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a hitch mechanism for supportably and detachthe tractor intermediate said draft links; each of said l structures being fashioned to provide a first upward extending surface, a second surface extending upwardly and outwardly diverging from the upper end of said rst surface, a third surface upwardly extending from the upper end of said second surface, and a fourth surface extending vertically and being disposed forwardly of said first, second and third surfaces; abutment means movably mounted one each on said draft links and being displaceable fore-and-aft for alignment and selective contacting engagement with certain of the surfaces on said structures; sm'd abutment means being positionable in one fore-andaft disposed position thereof for engagement with said fourth vertical surfaces to prevent lateral sway of said draft links in either the raised or lowered positions of said links, and in another fore-and-aft disposed position thereof for engagement with said third surfaces to prevent lateral sway of said draft links when said links are in a raised position while being spaceable from said first surfaces to permit limited lateral sway of said draft links when said links are in a lowered position.

2. In a hitch mechanism for supportably and detachably fastening an earthworking implement to a traotor,.

the combination, comprising: a pair of generally foreand-aft extending laterally spaced-apart draft links pivotally mounted at the forward ends thereof on a rear portion of the tractor for lateral and vertical swinging; a pair of bumper structures laterally spaced apart and allixed to the tractor intermediate said draft links, and having each of said bumper structures fashioned to provide a rst-upwardly extending surface, a second surface extending upwardly and diverging outwardly from said rst surface, a third surface upwardly extending from said second surface, and a fourth surface extending vertically and being disposed forwardly of said rst, second, and third surfaces; said surfaces being further fashioned to define respective frst,'second, third and fourth camtracks; cam-follower means adjustably positionable for fore-and-aft adjustment one each on said draft links and being disposed for selective coaction with certain of said cam-tracks; said cam-follower means being disposed in one position thereof for engaging contact with said respective fourth cam-tracks to prevent lateral sway of said draft links in all raised and lowered positions of said links, and in another position thereof being `disposed for engaging contact with said respective third cam-tracks to prevent lateral sway of said draft links when said links are in a raised position 'while being concurrently spaceable from said respective first cam-tracks to permit limited lateral sway of said draft links when said links are in a lowered position.

3. The structure described in claim 2 and further characterized in that the surfaces defining said fourth cam-tracks are disposed in vertical planes inwardly displaced from vertical planes that contain the surfaces defining said third cam-tracks.

4. The structure described in claim 2 and further characterized in that the surfacesdening said fourth cam-tracks are disposed in vertical planes inwardly displaced from vertical planes that contain the surfaces dening said third cam-tracks by an amount corresponding with the amount of -divergence of said draft links between the fore-and-aft positions of said cam-follower means.

5. The structure described in claim 2 and further characterized in that the cam-follower means `are fashioned with individual cam-followers that project inwardly toward one another from an Vimer longitudinally extending surface of each respective draft link.

6. The structure described in claim 1 and further characterized in that said first, third and fourth surfaces of each structure are parallel to one another and to the corresponding surfaces of the other structure, while the respective second surfaces of said structures diverge outwardly away from one another.

7. In a hitch mechanism for supportably and detachably fastening an earthworking implement to a tractor, the combination comprising: a pair of generally foreand-aft extending laterally spaced-apart draft links pivotally mounted at the forward ends thereof on a rear portion of the tractor for lateral and vertical swinging; a pair of bumper structures laterally spaced apart and affixed to the tractor intermediate said draft links, and having each of said bumper structures fashioned to provide a rst upwardly extending surface, a second surface extending upwardly and diverging outwardly from said first surface, Va third surface upwardly extending from said second surface, and a fourth surface extending vertically and being disposed forwardly of said rst, second,-

and third surfaces; said surfaces being further fashioned to define respective first, second, third and fourth camtracks; follower means adjustably positionable for foreand-aft adjustment one each on said draft links and being disposed for selective coaction with certain of said camtracks; said follower means including rollers rotatably mounted for rotation on fore-and-aft extending-axes and being disposed in one fore-and-aft displaced position thereof for engaging contact with said respective fourth cam-tracks to prevent lateral sway of said draft links in all raised and lowered positions of said links, and in another fore-and-aft position thereof being disposed for engaging contact with said respective third cam-tracks to prevent lateral sway of said draft links when said links are in a raised position while being concurrently spaceable from said respective first cam-tracks to permit limited lateral sway of said draft links when said links are in a lowered position.

8. In a hitch mechanism for supportably and detachably fastening an implement to a vehicle, the combination, comprising: a pair of generally fore-and-aft extending and spaced-apart draft links; means mounting the forward ends of said draft links on the rear portion of the vehicle for lateral and vertical swinging; a pair of camming structures laterally spaced apart and affixed to the vehicle intermediate and independent of said draft links, and'having each of said structures fashioned to provide a, irlstA vertically extending surface, a second surface extending vertically and diverging outwardly Yfrom said iirst surface, a third surface extending vertically from said second surface, and a fourth surface extending vertically and being disposed forwardly of said first, second and third surfaces; said surfaces being further fashioned to define respective rst, second, Athird and fourth cam-tracks which lie in planes that parallel an extension of the longitain of the cam-tracksv of said structures; said brackets being arranged so that in one position thereof said rollers are engageable with said fourth cam-tracks to prevent lateral sway of said draft links in all raised and lowered positions thereof, and in another position said rollers are engageable with said third cam-tracks to prevent lateral sway of the draft links .when in a raised position while i :being concurrently spaced from said'rst cam-tracks to permit limited lateral sway when said draft links are in a lowered position.V Y t 9. The structure described in claim 8 and further characterized in that each of said brackets is fashioned to resemble an overturned U-shape in cross-section and are additionally provided withy inwardly extendingv and spaced- 'apart lugs that rotatably carrysaid rollers thereon.

V10. The structure described in claim 9 and further characterized in that each of said Ibrackets is provided with a pair of aligned apertures in the arms thereof and which areV disposed so as to be outside the outer longitudinally extending vertical surface of a respective draft link; and wherein each' of said detent means includes a plural-notched bar ai'lxed to said outer longitudinally eX- `tending ver-tical surfaceV of said respective' draft link and a removable pin is receivable in a selected one of said Y notches. and in the aligned apertures of'said'respective brackets so as to restrict free slidable movement of said brackets along the respective draft links.

ll. The structure described in claimY 8` and further characterized in that the rearwardly extending end edges of said first, second, third and'fourth surfaces, and theV forward end edges of said first, second and third surfaces are arcuately fashioned with the radius of said curvature centered about the respective pivotal connections of said draft links.

l2. In a hitch mechanism for supportablyand detachl face upwardly extending from the upper end of said sec- Y ond surface, and a fourth surface extending vertically and being disposed forwardly of said rst, second and third surfaces; abutment means Amovably mounted one each on said draft links and being displaceable fore-and- Y aft for alignment and selective contacting engagement with certain of the surfaces on said structures; said -abutment means being positionable in one fore-and-aft disposed position thereof for engagement with said fourth vertical surfaces to prevent lateral -sway of said draft links in either the raised or lowered positions of said links, and in another fore-and-aft disposed` position thereoflfor engagement with said third surfaces to prevent lateral sway of said draftllinks when saidlinks Vare in a raised position while being spaceable from said first surfaces to permit limited lateral swayof said draft links when said links are in a lowered position; and stop means affixed to said tractor adjacent the forward ends 0f said y draft links, including members conical-shaped in crosssection disposed one each adjacent a respective draft link and adaptable for engaging contact with saidV draft links to limit the extreme lateral sway thereof when said abutment means on said draft links are vertically positioned so as not to be engageable with any of the said surfaces on said pair of structures.

References Cited in the tile of lthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,935,145 Du shane May s, o 2,935,147 naman May 3, 1960 2,987,126

Horney r .Tune 6, 1961 

